FORMER Guyana and West Indies Cricket captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and his family of Fitness 53 Gym, located at Providence, East Coast, Demerara last Wednesday handed over a large quantity of cricket balls and trophies to Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC).

According to a release, the donation was handed over by Sarwan’s parents, Kishan and Kumarie, during a simple ceremony at the Club’s Area ‘H’ Ground office.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the former Guyana and West Indies batting idol for his kind gesture. He also disclosed that the donated items would be distributed to eight cricket clubs and one sub-association in Berbice, as the RHTY&SC strives to ensure that cricket is offered to youths as an alternative to a life of crime and the evil ways of Satan.

The RHTY&SC for 2017 has assisted dozens of cricket clubs and schools with over $3M worth of cricket balls, scorebooks, cricket gear, cricket stumps, trophies, medals and educational materials under its Cricket Outreach Programme.
The RHTY&SC, Foster proudly stated, is the only club in Guyana and perhaps the Caribbean that assists its sister organisations. He pledged that the programme would be expanded in 2018 to include more clubs and schools.

The RHTY&SC and Ramnaresh Sarwan have enjoyed a close relationship over the years. The former West Indies batting star was inducted as a honorary member and was honoured at a special ceremony that was attended by the Guyana and Leewards Islands cricket teams.

Sarwan, for several years, has also sponsored the Ramnaresh Sarwan Educational Scholarship Fund, which has benefited dozens of less fortunate students. The fund assisted the students to stay in schools to obtain an educational background by providing them with all the necessities to attend school.

Vice-president Mark Papannah, Organising Secretary Keith Hicks and Cricket Manager Ravin Kissoonlall each expressed gratitude to the Sarwan family and Fitness 53 Gym.
Kishan Sarwan, in handing over the donation, stated that his son was impressed with the work of the RHTY&SC and its commitment to making a positive difference. The Fitness 53 Gym, he stated, was fully aware of its corporate responsibilities to give back to society and the donation to cricket clubs was the best way to do so, as Sarwan excelled at the highest level in the game.

Among the cricket clubs that would benefit from the donation are Blairmont, Police, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Kildonan and Upper Corentyne.
Sarwan played 87 Test matches for the West Indies scoring 5 842 runs at an impressive average of 40.01 with 15 centuries and thirty-one fifties.

In 181 One Day International, he scored 5 804 runs with five centuries. He served briefly as the West Indies captain before injury forced him to pass on the captaincy to Chris Gayle.